The Fox That Swallowed Nightmares

Cute girls love pork soup. Ahh, I want to eat. The monster drooled and chuckled. Right before its eyes lay plump, delicious prey. But even with such tantalizing food in front of it, the monster couldn't do a thing. There was a tiny human nestled against Mayuri's chest. It looked utterly defeated now, but before Mayuri devoured it, it must have been an existence on a far higher plane. A being called a god, perhaps? The overwhelming difference in stature. Like a peasant committing a crime just by gazing upon nobility, it was something one shouldn't even look at directly.

It couldn't move. Ahh, I want to eat. I want to bring that under my control. If I swallowed it, I'd rise to an even higher plane! Giggle giggle. The monster laughed.

"It's... your defeat... So accept it......" Mayuri trembled as if gripped by terror. Yet she didn't avert her eyes, staring straight ahead and saying it just like that.

Of course it would accept. The world was survival of the fittest. Everything ran on the logic of power. The stronger devoured the weak. The stronger dominated the weak. The stronger climbed ever higher. The reason it couldn't devour them was simply because it lacked the power. It had devoured according to that logic all this time, planning to swallow everything in this world. So it knew the end would come either by devouring all and reaching the pinnacle... or by being devoured by something even greater.

And that day was today. Giggle giggle. Ahh, what a shame. I thought I could eat them. I thought I'd claim that body and name for myself. But it turned out I was the one being eaten.

"Fine, devour me." You have the right to do so. Crush me to pieces, chew me up, digest me, and eat me. But if you're going to swallow me, you have to do it thoroughly.

"If you can't──I'll eat you instead." Giggle giggle. The monster laughed.

"You've had a tough time."

Park Jong-cheol said that. As a working adult, I should probably return some polite pleasantry, but...

"...Yeah. I really went through hell."

No way. I'd sooner twist my own arm than spout some cool line like "Just doing my job. It's what pros do for the pay."

Of all the monsters I'd faced so far, this one had been the worst... My memories in the dream were hazy, and without Ari or Lisa by my side, that terror was no joke... Plus, how many times had I revisited the same damn place? I deserve a pat on the back for knowingly walking into danger every single time...

"Haha, since it was such an unusual case, I'll put in a word for extra pay."

At least I'd gotten a fat check out of it. Checking my bank balance eased my mood a bit. Time to start planning that move. This place was too cramped for three people. After setting aside the commission fee and deposit... a little loan on top might make the dream of owning my own home a reality. The payments would be a burden, but I'd keep earning as a fixer, so I'd pay it off somehow...

"How's Harin doing?"

"She's awake. No major issues with her condition, but she'll need more tests, so she'll be hospitalized a while longer."

"I see..."

Ryu Harin might be better off that way. My little superstar anchovy... She had this habit of stepping on death flags whenever she got a chance. But I'd saved her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠every time, right? ...Still, she seemed like the type to keep tempting fate, so I was worried. At least in the hospital, she wouldn't die.

"Ryu Harin hasn't started her tests yet. Want to talk to her?"

I nodded.

The hospital room reeked of disinfectant. Even after sleeping for so long, Ryu Harin looked utterly drained. Was it from sleeping a whole week? She seemed even thinner than before.

"...What food do you like?"

"Huh...?"

"What food do you like?"

"Uh..."

She hit me with that out of nowhere. Was she hungry or something...?

"Pork soup...?"

"...Doesn't suit your looks. That's guy food."

"Doesn't pork soup go with cute girls...? And I am a cute girl..."

"No idea what you're on about. Anyway, pork soup places have no vibe, so pick something else."

"Vibe...? You're the one not making sense..."

I said that, and Ryu Harin shrugged slightly.

"I heard you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠saved my life again. I don't remember either time, though."

"Uh, yeah..."

"Even if I don't remember, it's a fact you saved me. Since I owe you, I figured I'd buy you a meal."

"I seeee..."

No need to go that far, but I got where she was coming from. If I were in her shoes, I'd do the same.

"So, favorite foods?"

"Uh, pork soup, pork cutlet, spicy pork stir-fry... ...Burger?"

"...Why is it all guy food? Fine. I'll pick the restaurant."

Chicken ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gift card would've been easy... But she shot that down hard, saying it lacked sincerity.

"I'll contact you when I get discharged."

That's what Ryu Harin said. She had to start tests soon after, so we couldn't chat more. I headed back to the office.

I used Ari's lap as a pillow.

"Bored."

Ari looked down at me and said that, but still. A cute girl's lap pillow is wild... In anime, it's all romantic fantasy, but a regular pillow feels way comfier...

Still, I just lay there blankly, staring at the ceiling on Ari's lap. I had no idea how many more monsters I'd face, but I never wanted to deal with one solo like this again... Even if our Ari was a total do-nothing slacker, having her around made a huge difference—I'd realized that anew. I'd been like this before, but from now on, no more solo outings. Sleeping alone creeped me out too, so I'd bunk with Ari for a while. Stick to her in the office too. Even if we got caught in anomalies, I wouldn't go alone. You'd get dragged in too.

"Bathroom."

"Tch... Can't help the bathroom..."

I let Ari go. What a clueless slacker...

Taemi had been a huge help in this incident, so I ordered a miniature house.

"Taemi, what do you think?"

"...Pointless overspending."

Taemi rolled her eyes but flopped onto the mini sofa anyway.

"Don't really need this."

Said the one using it just fine. Lucky Taemi. She'd achieved homeownership faster than me. No taxes either. Anyway, after this mess, I improved Taemi's setup. I'd been leaving her at home till now since she looked like a doll. ...And as an adult, I didn't want people thinking I carried dolls around. But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from now on, I'd carry her shamelessly. We were all self-employed, sharing the ups and downs of commuting. Me as office director, Ari as office slacker, Lisa as janitor. Taemi as office decor figurine.

"Do whatever."

Taemi acted indifferent, but whatever.

Through this incident, I was undergoing a slight change. Made money, boosted my rep as a fixer, built friendly ties with the Foundation. Searching "Ririri" on Mimingnet showed more eyes on me. Maybe a client would commission us soon.

Dissman went back to unresolved since I returned it to the Foundation, but whatever. Three new monsters added to the codex this time. Three more to the next perk.

But...

"......'Conquered' means she became a cute girl, right."

I recalled the fox monster pretending to be Ryu Harin in the dream. Come to think of it, that was weird. Multiple monsters from one anomaly wasn't common. More like mid-to-late game stuff. Especially one that absorbed another's power.

...This worldline had the cult acting suspicious. Gotta watch them extra close.

But...

...Does that mean the fox monster will come find me soon?

Like Ari and Lisa, she'd know my location. So she'd definitely show up.

...What was she thinking? Happy like Lisa about becoming human? If so, it'd resolve peacefully. Best outcome. ...Might gain another housemate, though. Not thrilled about more people, but I could handle it. Better than hostility.

...If she was hostile, how should I handle it?

"Lisa, another monster like you guys might show up. ...Count on you if things go south."

"Yes, understood."

I told Lisa that. A week passed waiting for her. Nothing happened.

...?

"...Why hasn't she come?"

What the hell? Where was she messing around...?